Movie Reviews & Interviews from Washington

DC Film Girl’s Quick Shot: ‘The Watch’

Note: DC Film Girl’s Quick Shot is an informal and shorter review than her typical full-length film dive-in. Enjoy.

I don’t even know what to say about “The Watch,” except for the fact that it was terrible. I’m sure Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller had a completely different film in mind when they signed on, but now are probably embarrassed as all hell to be involved in it.

Director Akiva Schaffer directed and co-wrote several SNL digital shorts including “D**k in a Box”. Obviously a talented and funny guy, Schaffer may not have what it takes to for mainstream film. Of course, “The Watch,” formerly titled “The Neighborhood Watch”, had to change their title due to the Treyvon Martin case, which ultimately changed their marketing for the film. But still, even with the slight title change, the plot and script still weren’t up to par to the film’s leading talent.

Vaughn, Hill and Stiller are all hilarious on their own, but didn’t quite mesh well together in the movie. The plot is “Attack the Block” meets “Ghostbusters” mixed with”The Faculty” and “21 Jump Street,” except for the fact that all four of those films are superior to “The Watch.” I laughed a few times, but about a quarter of the way in, “The Watch” loses speed and we are lost in the completely messy plot.

Aliens invade small-town Ohio, kill a few people and Stiller creates a neighborhood watch to find the killer and stop the madness. There were a few moments in the movie where Jonah Hill’s character looked bored, seriously bored and I wasn’t doubting for a second that the actor was probably sick and tired of filming the movie.

Don’t go see “The Watch”, rent “The Faculty” or “Zombieland” instead. Two movies with a touch of horror and tons of laughs.